Hunt for hoops’ talents

Trials starting for Coast basketball associations

Both Gold Coast associations are having trials for children wanting to play this year.

Get online and check out the North Gold Coast Seahawks or Gold Coast Basket- ball websites for information ASAP. There are programs for beginners from five to 10 years.

Competitions range from under-9s through under-21s so there is plenty of room for anyone to have a game.

Another basketball milestone was reached by Ben Simmons with him being selected to the NBA All-Star game this year, the first time an Australian has been selected to the game.

Well, Kyrie Irving was born in Melbourne but he has identified himself as an American and played at the national level for them, so as for as I’m concerned he doesn’t count.

There was a solid case for Simmons being selected to the All-Star game last year but the voting is skewed by coaches who like to give veterans the nod over rookies.

Point in case being Luka Doncic this year, one of the top vote-polers but still not making it to the game.

Ben’s Philadelphia 76ers team just pulled off a big trade this week and have now got one of the best starting lineups in the league with the addition of Tobias Harris.

Hopes will be high for the 76ers to go deep into the playoffs and the spotlight will be on Simmons as he didn’t play well in the conference semi-final series against Boston, compared to how dominant he had been for the rest of the season.

Even casual Australian fans are tuning in to watch Simmons play as he is capturing the spotlight on his way to being the biggest Aussie star.